Scarborough Symphony Orchestra reaches the climax of its diamond jubilee celebrations on 17 July with its final concert of the season at the Spa. The concert will include Mendelssohn’s Hebrides overture, Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No.1, with the popular Russian pianist Andrei Ivanovitch, and Handel’s Music for the Royal Fireworks.

The concert will also feature a work composed by one of the orchestra’s viola players, Vivian Simpson - his Dialogues of a Wandering Minstrel. Vivian is one of the longest serving members of the orchestra, having joined no fewer than 50 years ago under the original conductor, Ron Cole. Vivian came to composition quite late in life when, on retiring as a doctor in 1994, he went to Leeds University to study for a music degree.

Formed by Second World War Royal Marines bandmaster Ron Cole as a 20-piece orchestra in 1949, the orchestra gave its first concert at the Methodist Central Hall, Queen Street, in December of that year. Since this concert, the orchestra has been directed by only six conductors and gone from strength to strength over the intervening 60 years.

Present conductor Shaun Matthew began with the orchestra in 2005, taking over from Geoffrey Emerson who had directed it since 1995. Between them, they have worked tirelessly to raise the standard, profile and repertoire of the orchestra as well as introducing some of the finest soloists both from this country and overseas.

As the orchestra is always keen to encourage young people to experience live music, tickets to concerts are free to children and full-time students and student musicians are encouraged to join. The orchestra is always very keen to welcome new members, so if you fancy joining get in touch at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it